As of Tuesday afternoon local garlic farmers wanting higher prices set up a blockade of route 1095 into Pai at the intersection with the road to Wat Chan not allowing any vehicles to pass. I learned about it today at the army checkpoint on the way back from CM who advised us to go around via Mae Sariang. Sure no problem. We continued on down the hill into Pai and all sorts of vehicles were parked on the highway for about half a klick up from the blockade. We parked the truck along the road and walked down to the blockade, where the protesters have set up a large awning in the middle of the intersection. It seemed like a party atmosphere, there was no chanting or protest signs, and the few bib I saw were milling about doing nothing as usual. It's no problem to walk through and we were picked up by friends on the Pai side. The mini busses appeared to be doing something similar. At this time Pai is completely out of fuel and the gas stations are closed.

Nirat Chankaen, the chairman of the Mae Hong Son garlic grower network said that the blockage of the two roads and the protest at city hall was to urge the government to solve their garlic price problem.

The protesters said that they would block the roads until the government approves buying dry garlic at a guaranteed price of 25 baht per kilogramme.

Mae Hong Son governor Thongchai Wongrienthong said the province sent representatives to negotiate with protestors to disperse and unblock roads pending the meeting of the committee in charge of farmer assistance policies. (TNA